Works in this series are the final written component of a masters or doctoral degree program at Grand Valley State University. Culminating Experience Projects demonstrate a student's competence in their discipline while producing original research, investigating a scholarly topic, or producing a creative work.

For GVSU Students

Note: in some graduate programs, students may instead create a Thesis or Dissertation. These can be found as separate series in the Graduate Research and Creative Practice collection.

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Theses/Dissertations from 2023

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Culturally Responsive Education: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment for LGBTQ+ Students, Kassidi M. Adams

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A Collection of Middle Level Reading Interventions Categorized Based on Specific Criteria, Claire E. Alexander

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Improving the Mental Health of International Students in Higher Education with Holistic Self-Improvement Practices, Layth Almallah

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Teacher Attrition in Elementary Schools, Amanda J. Almy

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Independent Writing At The Kindergarten Level, Carley K. Andrus

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Sleep Issues of Older Adults: Lived Experience and Occupational Performance, Emily Angell, Anna Johnston, Adriana C. Mallett, Cassidy Ward, and Rachel Wiltse

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Empowering All Learners: The Role of Cultural Responsiveness in Elementary Literacy Education, Meghan Claire Arbury

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Creating a Partnership Using the Home to School Connection to Implement Relevant Instruction in the Classroom and Supporting the School to Home Connection to Create a Tier Two Intervention Tailored to Students’ Early Literacy Needs, Sara L. Arthurs

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Developing a Sense of Belonging Among First-Year First-Generation College Students, Charlotte Rose Balkus

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Improving Adherence to Annual Diabetes Guidelines in Rural Primary Care, Ashley Barney

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Narrowing the Achievement Gap: Culturally Responsive Teaching for African American Students, Haylee Batzer

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Building Student-Athlete Resilience On and Off the Field, Hannah Beatus

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Staff Education To Increase Confidence in Caring for LGBTQI Cancer Patients: A Quality Improvement Initiative, Clara C. Beaver

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Increased Rate of Absenteeism in Student Attendance, Joshua R. Bechtel

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Social Emotional Learning Resources and Evaluations for Kindergarten Students, Jacquelyn Becker

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Non-Traditional Interventions for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A Program Evaluation, Emily Fowler Bemben

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Building Stronger Student-Teacher Relationships with Students of Color, Diana Berlanga

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Lack of Engagement of Play-Based Learning in Early Childhood Education, Jessica A. Beuilby

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Evidence Based Practices to Support Inclusion of Students with Emotional Impairments, Christine Blomberg

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Enhancing Institutional Support through a First Year Transfer Experience Program, Jade E. Bowman

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Overrepresentation of African American Children in Child Welfare, Mareeta M. Bracken

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Moving Secondary Students from Foundational Literacy to Critical Literacy, Devan Rhea Bridget

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A Retrospective Comparison of Dose Distribution within Density Override and Avoidance Structures in Volumetric Arc Therapy Prostate Plans with Hip Prosthetics: A Dosimetric Evaluation, Jared Richard Brinkman

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The Effects Negative of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American, Alisha M. Brown

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The Negative Effects of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American, Alisha M. Brown

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The Negative Effects Of White Teachers Biased Views Towards African American Students, Alisha M. Brown

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Breaking Down Barriers: A Study on the Implementation of Holistic Admissions in Higher Education, Justin A. Brown

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Excessive Absences Impede Academic Success, Olivia Lynn Brown

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Eliminating the Gap: Proposed Implementation Methodology for Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Professional Development, Amanda May Brunette

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Building Climate and Culture with Stakeholders Through Restorative Discipline Practices, Venessa A. Bulk

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The Effectiveness of Meaningful Differentiated Instruction within the Classroom, Grace Cairy

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Grading to Better Communicate Student Learning, Derek M. Carlisle

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Comparative Retrospective Study of Proton Arc Planning with ELSA Algorithm and IMPT with Monte Carlo Algorithm with Raystation Treatment Planning System, Matthew L. Carpenter MS, MSHA, BSRT(R)(T)

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Narrowing the Achievement Gap by Increasing Student Opportunities in an Outdoor Project-Based Learning Environment, Britney Christensen

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Addressing Sexual Assault and Supporting Survivors’ Mental Health and Academic Performance Through Peer Advocate Support, Elizabeth G. Clark

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A Quantitative Dosimetric Comparison of DIBH VMAT and Static-IMRT APBI Treatments: Evaluating Large Left Sided Lumpectomy Cavities Located near the Chest Wall, Christopher Jordan Clifton

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Feasibility of Patient Centered Medical Home Designation for a Nurse Managed Health Center, Kristin Cooper

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The Development of Fetal Immunity from in Utero to Shortly After Birth and Complications that Can Arise from Improper Functioning, Marlee Curnutt

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Supporting the Pedagogical Development of Graduate Teaching Assistants: A Self-Directed Approach, Katie Cwiakala

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Making Space for Adolescents of Refugee Background in Public Libraries, Danielle S. deJonge

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Revising the Team Huddle Process in a Federally Qualified Health Center, Donna DeMann

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Parental Involvement and Student Success, Sally DeMolen

Next Generation Engagement: How to Foster Jewish Identity and Jewish Community Building in Teens and Young Adults, Shelby Denhof

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Fact Fluency in Precision Teaching Environments, Mary Dieterly

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Comparative analysis of rectum delineation: Inter-observer agreement among treatment planners versus auto segmentation in a single institution, Haley Douglas

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Transitioning into Kindergarten, Faith C. Dysard

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An Examination of the Importance of Fire Prevention and Safety Education, Lisa J. Eller

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Dosimetric Evaluation of Left-Sided Chest Wall VMAT Treatment with and Without Jaw Tracking; Dose Comparison of Left Anterior Descending Artery versus Heart Mean Dose, Jacqueline J. Emus

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An Examination of Non-core Teacher Training in Special Education, Courtney Farber

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Mental Health Education in Higher Education, Chelsea J. Farley

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Interfraction variability of breathing amplitude of patients undergoing SBRT lung treatment and the potential impact on dosimetry, Christian Padilla Gallegos

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Higher Education Professionals are not Prepared to Support Students' Growth and Exploration of Religion and Worldviews, Matthew Gibson

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Problem Behavior in Early Childhood Special Education, Morgan N. Giola

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An Examination of the Importance of Academic Support Programs for Two-Year College Student-Athletes, Amanda J. Glaza

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The Twice Exceptional Learner Making the Classroom More Engaging for All, Josy Goodwin

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A dosimetric comparison of coplanar and non-coplanar beam arrangement for APBI treatment techniques, Reuben Granger

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An Examination of Early Childhood Scholars’ Social Emotional Competencies, Monica J. Graveling

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A Framework for a Peer Mentorship Program to Promote Student-Athlete Success at Grand Rapids Community College, Brianna D. Greenough

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Parental Involvement and Kindergarten Readiness, Lauren Griffin

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Utilizing Cost-Effective Strategies to Combat the Achievement Gap in Low-Income Schools, Danielle L. Groendyk

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Comparative Study of 3-D Planned Spatially Fractionated Radiation Therapy Utilizing an External Compensator, Standard Definition MLCs, and High Definition MLCs, Christine Grow

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An Examination of the First-Year Experience of Conditionally Admitted Students, Alexis Gunn

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BEYOND THE BELL: REBUILDING CARE, CIVIC LEARNING AND CREATIVITY WITHIN YOUTH SPACES, Michelle R. Haapala

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Quantitative Benefits of Reducing the Inferior Border of Right-Sided Free Breathing Intact Breast Treatment Plans Regarding Liver Dose, Shelby Handshue

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Recruitment and Retention of Black Faculty at Predominantly White Institutions: Development of Mentorship within Academic Departments, ShayVonne L. Harris

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Addressing Bias From Faculty Through Implementing Bias Training, Tori A. Henning

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Use of Resources by Adult Karner Blue Butterflies (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) in Michigan: Comparisons of Nectar Selections on Native and Non-native Species, Afafia Herweyer

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Mentoring for the Retention and Promotion of Diverse Talent, Holly M. Hetherington

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An Analysis of the Efficacy of Disciplinary Methods, William Hewitt

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The Effect of Reading Habits on Academic Success, Taylor Hicks

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Chronic Absenteeism: Exploring Causes, Impacts, and Interventions in Education, Arlee M. Hoag

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Comparing the Health Care Resource Utilization and Medication Adherence of People with Epilepsy and People with Diabetes by Insurance Status, Nikole Hoffman, Gerald Shoultz, and Sarah Nechuta

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Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome in Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Curriculum: A Survey, Elise Hohl, Corrina Anderson, Courtney Casper, Mackenzie Morris, and Carla Floyd-Slabaugh

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Food for Thought: A Food Initiative for Selective Institutions, Johanna Hossink

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Academic Outcomes of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Awareness and Action, Tanner B. Howe

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Nursing Retention: Improving the Work Environment Among the Registered Nurse and Unlicensed Assistive Personnel, Nina Jean Hudgins

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Let Them Play! Integrating More Play into Kindergarten Curriculum and Classrooms, Danielle N. Johnson

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Learning Outcomes Affecting Pre-K Students’ Performance: Focusing on Class Sizes, Diamond Johnson

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Exploring the lived experience of international students of color at Predominately White Institutions., Soheli Farzana Jony

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Teacher Attrition: Supporting Teachers Through Mentorship, Tiffany A. Kamper

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Is My Colonialism Showing? A Reflexive Case Study., Nicole A. Karsies

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Formalized Diabetes Self-Management Education in a Safety-Net Clinic, Emanpreet Kaur

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Impact of Isotropic Grid Size and CT Slice Thickness on the Target Volume Coverage for Intracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery: A Retrospective Study, Kelsey M. Kimmane

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A Socially Innovative Curriculum for an Afterschool Program, Shelinda T. Knight Davenport

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Parent Involvement in Elementary Schools, Abbey Koessel

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Mentoring to Minimize Burnout In Early Elementary Teachers, Bethany L. Kohn-McFadden

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Determination of Optimal Block Margins for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) of Island-type Lung Lesions with Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy (DCAT) and Acuros XB., George C. Kozan

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Investigating the Curricular Practices of Social Innovation Master’s Programs in the United States, Ty M. Krueger

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Improving Social Determinants of Health Screening and Intervening in a Rural Primary Care Setting, Katina Ann Pulos Kuerth

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The Need for Specialized Training for Faculty and Staff Working with Transfer Student-Athletes, Erin c. Kuyawa

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Understanding Kindergarten Standards and Expectations Through a Family Literacy Night, Heather A. Lamers

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Recognizing Grief and Learning to Cope, Jessica Leigh Kerin Lazar

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Potential Occupational Therapy Interventions for People with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Scoping Review, Annette Leep, Darcie A. Shaw, Meghan E. Lloyd, Stephanie M. Voelck, and Hannah R. Ghneim

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Limiting Play-Based Learning in Early Childhood Classrooms: The Impact on Student Engagement, Ashley M. Lesniak

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A Further Investigation into the use of the Auto 500 Normal Tissue Objective Setting to Compare HyperArcTM and RapidArcTM Planning Using Dosimetric Rings for Single Brain Lesion Stereotactic Radiosurgery: A Retrospective Study., Ndipnu B. Lima

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Dosimetric significance of manual density overrides in oropharyngeal cancer, Thomas Lo Greco

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InstaAnalytica, Sapna Maduraimuthu

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The Historical Underrepresentation of Two-Spirit People and the lack of services within LGBTQ+ Centers across North America: A guide to address offering support, Catherine Diane Mandoka